This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sen. John Valentine now wishes he would have pushed for a law that all restaurants have a "Zion curtain." Sen. Valentine claims it is important to consider a balance between the societal effects of alcohol and our ability to be hospitable. However, hospitality has more to do with being welcoming and offering choices. Being hospitable is about being polite and allowing people to choose what is right for them.
The idea of the Zion curtain is to curtail children from seeing a drink being made. The hypothesis is that if the children do not see it, they will not ask questions and not be tempted. It seems that many parents in this state cannot be burdened with educating their kids and being an actual parent. Rather, they must move the blame for any potential bad choice their child makes away from them.
Here is a novel idea. Make Zion curtains voluntary and let the "free market" have a role here. A restaurant can decide not to serve liquor, or if they do pursue a liquor license, they can decide to install a Zion curtain. Good LDS folks along with other rational adults can then decide if they want to patronize these establishments. Those who wish to have a glass of wine with dinner can decide to patronize these restaurants, or not. If you do not wish to be around liquor, you can decide not to be and frequent a liquor-free or Zion-curtain restaurant. Drinking is a choice. Drinking responsibly is a choice. Not drinking is a choice. God gave you free will, remember?
Travis W. Jones
Salt Lake City